Losing a loved one is never easy, but there are several positive ways to deal with the situation.
Bench memorials are a fantastic way to pay tribute to the deceased. It is a monument that is both functional and reminiscent of the person that has passed on. If you’re planning on getting a bench memorial, here is everything you need to know.
What Are Memorial Benches?
This integrated seating can be dedicated to a lost loved one. It is a special place for family and friends to gather, pay tribute and fondly remember the deceased. When memorial benches are placed in public parks and other public spaces, anyone can use them.
Where To Place The Bench
You can have the memorial bench at home, place it at a cemetery as one of the cemetery monuments or you could have it on public land for everyone to use. If you choose to have the bench at home, it will remain a private space for you and your family.
The main reason why people choose to have public memorial benches is so that anyone can use them. Anyone who sits down on the bench monument will read about who it is dedicated to.
This way, their memory lives on, and the bench also serves a good purpose as a resting area for the community.
How To Choose A Memorial Bench
A memorial bench can be customized in countless ways. You can use unique materials such as black granite, you can modify them with the latest technologies such as laser cutting โ you can make it as big or as small as you like โ or make cremation memorials if you prefer.
The idea is to make something that will honor the deceased in a way they would have enjoyed. With any kind of cemetery bench, there are three main components that you can customize.
Material
The material you use plays a big role in how the bench will look and perform. Certain materials are more customizable than others.
Since youโre making a memorial, it would be good to use material that the deceased would approve of. If you know that the lost loved one liked natural stones, then granite memorial benches or slate is a good choice.
Keep in mind the weather conditions that the bench will be exposed to. There are a lot of creative ways to customize the bench, but there is only so much you can do to protect the material.
If you live near the coast, for example, using wood or metal won’t be the best choice, as these are easily damaged by heat and humidity. In terms of materials, you have the option to use wood, cement, steel, synthetic materials, stone, or a combination of all for a cemetery bench.
Personalization
Depending on your religious beliefs, culture, and preferences of the deceased, you can personalize benches in several ways.
The most common approach is to mention some information on the tombstone about the person it is dedicated to, such as age, date of birth, and date of death. Luckily, with bench monuments, you have a lot more room to list more details and write out a personal tribute.
Other than text, you can also play around with colors, shapes, and decorations, and even make it a cremation memorial if you prefer to have the body cremated. Since it is an integrated seating system, you can make some modifications to ensure it is comfortable.
If youโre installing a memorial bench on public land, there may be some regulations to adhere to in terms of size, shape, and styling. Make sure you look into these before building the bench.
Finish
The purpose of the finish is twofold. One is to provide a nice look and feel to the final product, and the other is to preserve and protect the bench monuments from wear and tear regardless of material.
Each material has its strengths and weaknesses, and a good finish will help the bench withstand all weather elements. Itโs important to apply surface protectants such as paint or polish.
If the bench monument is on your property, you will be responsible for its upkeep. If it is in a cemetery, talk to management as they will likely have a maintenance service to handle this.
Discuss maintenance with the local council or associated body if the bench is on public property to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
Best Materials For A Memorial Bench
The kind of material you use will be dictated by the city council which governs the area unless your bench is on your private property โ then you have the say.
However, to ensure longevity, the most common materials include wood, steel, cement, stone, and synthetic materials.
Wood
The best memorial benches are made with hardwood. These are very beautiful in their genuine color, they are durable and develop a fantastic patina over time. Some of the best woods for this purpose include:
Teak
Teak is commonly used in a lot of outdoor furniture because of the high natural oil content it has. It is a durable wood that withstands weather and pests, and can easily last over 25 years.
Oak
Oak is another good option, but this needs to be treated properly before installation. If it is treated with protectants, it can last upwards of 20 years.
Pine
Pine is an affordable option that lasts 10-15 years. To get the most use out of this wood, it must also receive the necessary protectants.
Mahogany
If you’re looking for a very stylish, classic look, then Mahogany should be your top choice. This is a pricier wood, but it is timeless. Once properly protected, it will last 10-15 years.
Roble
Roble is less common but extremely durable, much like teak. It can easily last over 25 years.
Cement
If you want a customized design, making it out of cement is the best option. Cement is also very cost-effective and extremely durable. Most people appreciate the abundant room for personalization with cement benches.
If you want to make building your bench even easier and cheaper, you can get pre-made slabs of concrete that simply need to be put in place and cemented together.
Steel
Steel is very versatile and affordable. The only problem to watch out for is rust. As long as the bench is painted, it should have no problems and will be good to use for several decades.
Granite Memorial Benches
Another option is to use natural stones. Among those, granite benches are a very popular option. It is available in lots of colors and patterns and is extremely durable and resistant to all kinds of weather.
Synthetic Materials
For an environmentally friendly option, consider recycled plastic. This is available in a lot of different forms including bricks, tiles, and sheets. You can easily make a bench using this material, and there are several ways you can customize it too.
How To Personalize Memorial Benches
There are countless ways that you can customize the bench to honor your lost loved one. You can add bench monuments and grave markers to it, or you can get a beautiful granite bench and have it laser-cut to your liking.
Benches made from natural materials such as wood or granite will also evolve over time. While you don’t need to do too much to modify the appearance of these materials, it is a good idea to weatherproof them to minimize the possibility of breakage and damage due to exposure to natural elements.
A memorial bench made from steel or a synthetic material must be painted regularly. When paint wears off, it exposes the material underneath, which can rust and crack or otherwise get damaged.
Not only do regular paint jobs add a protective layer, but they also allow for more ways to personalize the bench. You can decorate the bench with art pieces if you or someone you know loves to paint murals or draw on specific markings or a meaningful quote that meant a great deal to your beloved.
Bench Memorials For A Cemetery
Memorial benches are growing increasingly popular in cemeteries because it allows your beloved to live on in this life.
You can choose to place the bench close to the specific grave (where cemeteries allow this), or you can place it in a common area with other cemetery monuments.
Some cemeteries have a theme for the memorial benches. They may be using steel, wood, or granite memorial benches so, if you want to place a bench there, you will have to keep this in mind. In most cases, the cemetery management will take care of the maintenance of the bench and will charge a fee for installing it.
Private Memorial Benches
Having a private bench placed on one’s property can feel more sacred to some.
If you already have a spot in your house for memorial items, this will be the perfect addition. When making a memorial bench for personal use at home, you don’t have to worry about any regulations. You are free to make any kind of bench you like.
Public Benches
If you want your memorial bench to be in a cemetery, a park, the seaside, or any other public area, then there is a process you will have to follow.
The following is a general outline of what you need to do to get the bench approved and placed where you want it. The specifics of each process can vary from place to place depending on local regulations.
Get Permissions
You will need to get the necessary permissions from the concerned department to place a bench in any public space. This involves talking to the city council or the institute that has ownership of that property.
Arrange For The Bench
The institute or city council may have rules about what kind of memorial benches can be used.
In many localities, the concerned authority arranges for the bench itself. The applicant only needs to pay the institute for the cost of the entire process and they handle everything else.
In other cases, the authority may ask the applicant to arrange the memorial bench themselves.
Installing And Maintaining Memorial Benches
Installation and maintenance of the memorial bench can either be done by the authority that has ownership of the land, or they may ask the applicant to do this themselves.
If it is up to the applicant, there will most likely be rules and regulations about how the bench should be installed and maintained so that all health and safety regulations are met.
The best option is to get a licensed company to handle this part of the process for you. They will already be familiar with the requirements, and it will make the entire process easier, quicker, and cheaper.
Choosing The Right Bench
Some authorities may have a very specific requirement โ for instance, you may only be able to use granite memorial benches. Others may have no requirements at all, and you are free to install any kind of bench.
Once you are clear on what is required, you can go ahead and choose the appropriate style for your memorial bench.
What To Do If There Is No Room For A Bench
If there is no room for a full bench, the authorities may allow you to add a memorial plaque to an existing bench.
Conclusion
Creating the best memorial bench is all about finding the right place for it, using the right materials, and of course, building it according to your desired specifications.
There is no limit on how many benches you can get made for a lost loved one. If you have one at home, consider getting one in a public place as well as an act of charity and altruism in the name of your beloved.
Be sure to understand the material you are working with and give it the kind of protection it needs to last. Keep in mind that benches should be comfortable so people enjoy sitting on them. Comfort should be just as important as aesthetics in your design.